Game apparatus



Aug. 19, 1952 w GRAY 2,607,865

GAME APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1949 Gene W. Gra y INVENTOR- ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED srA'l-Es PATENT: OFFICE f Gene w. Gray, Salt Lake City, Utah Application May 4, 1949, Serial No. 91,257

instrument inserted from exteriorly of the =apparatus and operated to press the contacts of the switch together to unfairly and illicitly obtain the benefits which would have accrued had the projectile been properly played and directed into the objective in an manner. I I

It'is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide means for protecting the contact switches of game apparatus against tampering and unauthorized or illicit actuation of the switches contrary to the rules of the game apparatus;

A further object of the invention is to provide a protector of the character described which is adapted to be mounted on game apparatus presently in use for protecting the electrical contact switches of such apparatus against unauthorized illicit actuation. I

I Still another object of the invention is to provide a switch having the contacts enclosed to protect the same against illicit actuation or tampering. and having a switch actuating member projecting outwardly from the cover and disposed to be acted upon by a projectile to close the switch when the projectile has been depositedin a pre-determined objective.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a switch actuating member of the character described which is in the form of substantially a cylindrical pin having a conical projecting tip authorized and legal 6 Claims. (Cl. 200--52) Additional objects and advantages of the in-- vention will readily be apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through one objective opening of agame apparatus showing the switch protector of the invention installed in operative position on such apparatus,

Figure 2 is an isometric underside view of the apparatus of Figure 1, I

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the protector showing the same in combination with a switch in place on a game apparatus, I

\ Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified formv of switch and protector wherein the switch and merging with the cylindrical portion of said member and presenting only a point at the apex of the tip for engagement by the projectileto actuate the switch, the absence of shoulders or planar surfaces on the member substantially preventing unauthorized or illicit movement of the actuating member to operate the switch.

A further object of the invention is top'rovide a device of the character described which is simple in structure, economical to manufacture and install, and which may be applied to the switch mechanisms of game apparatus presently in use without extensive alteration of the apparatus.

protector are combined in an integral unit, and

Figure 5 is an end view of the switch and protector of Figure 4. I

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates an inclined playing board forming a part of a game apparatus, of the character generally known as a "marble board or the like, wherein a projectile H is propelled onto the inclined playing board of the apparatus in any suitable manner and is permitted to roll down such in clined playing board until the projectile falls into an objective hole l2 provided in such inclined playing board. The playing board may be provided with one or more of the objective openings or holes H, in the manner well-known in the art.

Arranged below the inclined playing board I0 is a sliding panel 13 having an elongate slot or opening i4 providedtherein and normally oil'- set from the objective opening H in the inclined playing board, so that a projectile or ball deposited in the objective hole will be supported upon the sliding panel until the panel has been Mounted on the sliding panel I 3 below each ob j ective hole 12 in the inclined playing board, is a circuit closing switch IS in the form of a plurality of spaced resilient electrically conductive contacts it which are held separated from each other at one end by means of a plurality of insulating spacer members ll held together by rivets [8 or the like. The clamped spacers and contacts form a body block or base [9 for the switch by means of which the switch may be secured to the underside of the sliding panel I3. The spring contacts l6 extend outwardly from the block to a point in the opening 14 where they are normally disposed below the objective hole 12, and re arranged to be moved intercontacting engagement with each other by the weight of the projectile or ball ll falling into the objective hole.

Heretofore, the usual switch mechanismahas had an upturned extension (not shown) ,fQrmed on the uppermost of the springco'nta'ct's 16,- and projecting upwardly through the. elongated:

switch will prevent unauthorized illicit tampering or actuation of the contact members, since ,-th ey'-'are not accessible to a wire or other instrument illicitly inserted into the game appa'ratus for actuating the spring contacts. Furslot or opening 14 into the objective hole l2,

whereby a ball or projectile H falling into the objective hole will engage such upturned extension to press the contacts downwardly into circuit-closing position. However, this structure was readily vulnerable to tampering or-cheat ingby use of a wire or similar implement inserted beneath the playing board to illicitly move the switch contacts into circuit closing position. 1

-;To=prevent such tampering and unauthorized operation of the switches, an elongate protector housing 20, formed ofplastic or other suitable non-conductive material and having a bore or chamber 2| formed thereinwith an open end 22 at one end of such housing, is positioned, in the manner shown in Figures 1 through-3, to

completely cover the. springcontact members l6v of the switch s The openend 2-2 of theprotector is positioned to abut the base or block 19 of the switch, whereby such base or block closes such open end, of the-protectorand; the spring contact: members a are completely enclosed, The portector housing 20' is provided with integral laterally extending flanges 23 on-each-side of the upper portionthereof, whereby the protector housing may be secured to theunderside of the sliding panel I3 by means of screws-24 passing throughopenings in said flanges. housingisshown as rectangular and such shape is preferable, .any other suitable configuration of the housing may be used For actuating the spring contact members l lif, anelongatepin 25, having a head 26 at its-lower end and a. gradually taperedv substantially conical point, 21 at its upper end, is movably positioned -in-ran opening formed in the upper surface of the protector housing near the outer ends oi the spring contacts Hi. The pin is of such length that a projectile or ball acting upon theapexialpointof thefpin willlpress the same downwardly to move the spring contacts into mally hold the actuating ;pinl25 in a project ing position, as :shown in full lines in -Figure,.

electrical contact circuit. closing positions. The uppermost spring. contact. I 6 is: arranged to nor- 3, but. will yield when thelweight of the ban is applied to the pin to move the pin and'contacts downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines to close, the electrical circuit. metal bushing 29 ispreferably mounted in-the opening 28 ior guiding. the actuating pin and reducing wear between the pin and-the protector housing at the opening. "f

:since the actuating pin 25 does not have any upu'rardly directed shoulders or planar surfaces,-

to providea conical'point at its uppermost end,

Whilethe thermore; the protective cover will likewise reduce damage to the contacts and prevent de forming or undesirable injury to the contacts during servicing operations on the game appara- In making installations of the protectors on game apparatus presently in use and having the upturned extension on the uppermost springicontact, as has alreadyb'een described, it is only' side of, the sliding panel l3randthe' device is ready for operation scribed in the manner already -de- .It' is alsowithin the scope of the invention to construct a switch which; is completely-em closed in and-becomes an integral-part of the Such a device is shown-inprotective cover. Figures 4-. and 5,,wherein the switch block 39 is enclosed in one, end of the elongate non-conductivehousing 40, andthe spring contacts fii extend-from the block into the bore of the-housing and are completely enclosed in such hou ssame manner as'inthe form firstdescribed, and

all other parts of the device of this. -modified form areidenticalin all respects to those of the form first described, and bearthe same identify-- ing numerals. The switch and protector thus maybe formed in an integral unit which may be 'mounted on they underside of .the slid-ing panel l3 of the game apparatus to replacethe usual switch and the separate cover of the iorm first described.

,All the advantages of the former" the device first describedare to bevfound in. this modified} form, and inaddition the modified form pro vides a simple unitary enclosed protected switch mechanism which is economicalandeasyto install.

From the foregoing, it will be seenthat an improved apparatus has been'provided for protectingjthe electrical contact switches of game apparatus against tampering and unauthorized.

or illicit actuation vof ,the switches contrary to the rules of the g-ameapp'aratiis; and that the,v

protector. is readily adapted for use 011. game apparatus presently in use, or maybe installed present switches.

It is also important to note that the cheat protector apparatus has been provided with a switch actuating member which is so constructed- 5 that only a point surface is presented for engagement by the projectiles of the game apparatus to actuate the switch, and that the absence of shoulders or planar surfaces on the switch actuating member substantially prevents unauthorized or illicit movement of the actuating member to operate the switch.

It will further be seen that the cheat protecting apparatus is simple in structure, economical to manufacture and install and may be applied to game apparatus presently in use without extensive alterations thereof.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cheat protected electrical contact switch for a game apparatus including, a base member, a plurality of resilient movable contacts carried by the base member, a non-conductive cover enclosing the movable contacts, and an actuating member movable with respect to the cover for moving the resilient contacts into contacting position, said actuating member having only a smooth substantially conical end portion without shoulders or exposed planar surfaces projecting through an opening in the cover so as to be engageable by a projectile whereby the engagement of the projectile with the actuating member moves the actuating member to press the resilient contacts into contact with each other, said smooth substantially conical end portion of said actuating member preventing illicit actuation of said actuating member by a wire ing the actuating member in projecting position.

2. A cheat protected electrical contact switch of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein, the cover and actuating member are separable from the base member and movable contacts of the switch.

3. A cheat protector for an electrical contact switch for a game apparatus including, an elongate cover member having means for fastening it to a game apparatus and having a bore adapted to receive the contacts of the switch, and an actuating pin movably mounted in the cover member and having only a smooth substantially conical end portion without shoulders or exposed planar surfaces projecting therefrom, said pin being disposed to engage the contacts of the switch when pressed inwardly with respect to the chamber in the cover to move the contacts into contacting position, said actuating pin projecting from the cover so as t be engageable by a projectile whereby such engagement moves the pin to move the contacts into contact with each other, said smooth substantially conical end portion of said actuating member preventing illicit actuation of said actuating member by a wire or the like.

4. A cheat protected electrical contact switch for a game apparatus including, a plurality of spaced resilient switch contact members, a base member supporting said contact members at one end, whereby the other ends of the contact memor the like, the resilient contacts normally holdbers are movable toward and from each other int and out of contacting position, a cover for the projecting movable portions of the switch contact members completely enclosing the same, and an actuating plunger slidable in an opening in the cover and disposed to engage the contact members to move the same into contacting position, said resilient contact normally holding said plunger in a projecting position, the plunger having only a smooth substantially conical end portion without shoulders or exposed planar surfaces projecting from the cover so as to be engageable by a projectile whereby such engagement moves the plunger to cause the resilient contact members to be moved into contacting position, said smooth substantially conical end portion of said actuating member preventing illicit actuation of said actuatin member by a wire or the like.

5. A cheat protector of the character set forth in claim 4 wherein, the cover member encloses and supports the base member for the resilient electrical switch contact members to provide an enclosed protected switch unit.

6. A game apparatus including a playing board having an objective aperture therein, an electrical switch disposed operatively below the objective aperture of the playing board and having a plurality of spaced resilient contact members exposed below said objective aperture whereby a projectile deposited in said aperture will move the contacts into contacting circuit closing position, a protective cover enclosing the resilient switch contacts and having a chamber in which the contacts are movable, and an actuating memher in the form of a pin having a sliding fit in an opening in said protective cover and having a head disposed in the chamber of the protective cover and engageable with the contacts, said pin projecting upwardly from the protective cover toward the objective aperture in the playing board and being normally disposed with respect to such aperture that a projectile deposited in said aperture will depress the actuating pin to cause the pin to move the switch contacts into contacting circuit closing position, a portion of the actuating pin projecting upwardly from the protective cover being formed with a smooth substantially conical upper end without shoulders or exposed upwardly facing planar surfaces, whereby a projectile must be supported by the walls of the playing board aperture and engage the pointed upper end of the pin to move the pin to cause the switch contacts to be moved to circuit-closing position, said smooth substantially conical end portion of said actuating member preventing illicit actuation of said actuating member by a wire or the like.

GENE W. GRAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,100,382 Levison June 16, 19-14 2,130,123 Ebert Sept. 13, 1938 2,251,056 Irwin July 29, 1941 2,258,329 MacDougall et al. Oct. 7, 1941 2,318,761 Curtis May 11, 1943 

